The United States got a taste of a new style of play in women's hockey and proved capable of handling it.

Margaret Scannell scored a goal and an assist as the United States outlasted a physical 6-3 win over Sweden.

"We have a really special group," Scannell said. "We are a really tough team and very mentally strong."

Alexandra Lalonde and Megan Healey had two assists each and Annelies Bergmann finished with 29 saves to preserve the victory.

The teams combined for 28 penalty minutes, which included four illegal hits and three roughing infractions.

Many of Sweden's players skate in the SDHL, which introduced bodychecking this season. The tactic, however, is outlawed in international play. It proved difficult for the Swedes to adjust their style in this opening game, but they drew the Americans into it as well.

"We are used to checking in Sweden because the rule is different than the international game," Emma Rehn said through a translator. "We need to play faster and do everything cleaner."

The contact led to frequent trip to the penalty box and eventful play on special teams. The U.S. finished 3-for-6 on the power play, while the Swedes went 1-for-8 and scored a shorthanded tally.

"It was definitely physical this game," Lalonde said. "Our team managed to come back and fight through all the penalties, still work hard on our power play and get shots through."

Sweden, however, was unable to capitalize on just under two minutes of 5-on-3 power-play time.

"(Team USA assistant coach) Lindsay Berman works with our PK and did a fantastic job getting them ready for today — lots of blocked shots, really good spacing, getting ourselves in lanes," U.S. coach Katie Lachapelle said. "That's a long time for 5-on-3. To kill those off was huge."

"We had some players step up and block huge shots, which was really nice to see," Lalonde added. "It helped the team build momentum."

Outside of the physicality, both teams displayed their offensive prowess, too.

The teams exchanged goals in the first two periods, but Peyton Compton gave the Americans the lead for good at 16:31 of the second period.

Alexandra Lalonde dug the puck out of the left corner and fed it to Compton breaking toward the slot. The native of Sanford, Florida deked and slid the puck past goaltender Ida Henriksson to make it 3-2.

Lucia DiGirolamo doubled the American lead 5:11 into the third, banking a sharp-angle shot from along the right goal line off Henriksson and in.

Scannell added an insurance goal on the power play midway through the third period to make it 5-2. Finley McCarthy chipped in an empty netter with 56 seconds to play.

The Americans struck first with a power-play goal 6:28 into the contest.

A rebound from Scannell's shot along the goal line bounced into the high slot, where Molly Jordan fired it back. As Ava Lindsay skated in front, she tipped the puck which bounced off defender Emma Goding's shin pad and skipped past Henriksson.

Sweden then squared the contest with a shorthanded goal late in the opening period.

Emilia Bergeby Hallbeck broke up the American power play at the blue line and carried the puck on a 2-on-1. She found Rehn on the left side, and the forward wristed the puck past Bergmann at 15:38 of the first period.

"We had a real good start and they did a really good job of pushing back." Lachapelle said. "We loved the pace of play today — it was back-and-forth."

The U.S regained the lead midway into the second period. Samantha Taber carried the puck to the slot and using a screen in front, fired a wrist shot. It hit Henriksson in the right shoulder and deflected into the top, right corner.

Moments after the first penalty in Sweden's first of two 5-on-3 opportunities expired, Sweden capitalized with a power-play goal at 14:47 of the second period. With Jordan off for roughing, Mira Hallin pounced on a rebound at the left edge of the crease and tapped it past an out-of-position Bergmann.

Compton would respond just under two minutes later to put the Americans ahead for good.

Hallin finished with an assist as well, and Linnea Natt Och Dag also scored for Sweden, which will face Canada on Monday at 20:00.

"We need to work together (as a team) and not play individually like we did today," Sweden coach Andreas Karlsson said.

The United States will face Finland, also Monday, at 16:00.

"We figure every game is going to be fast and physical," Lachapelle said. "We liked the way we played physical and we want to keep doing that."